UGA’s Georgia Electron Microscopy (GEM) core facility has acquired an X-ray computed microtomography (micro-CT) scanner, a powerful tool for non-destructive, three-dimensional imaging that greatly expands the unit’s imaging capabilities.
Funded by a $1.2 million National Science Foundation (NSF) Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) grant, the new Eclipse XRM-910 Micro-CT from Sigray Inc., creates 3D models from a series of 2D X-ray images, preserving the original sample.
“You can image a sample without needing to section or alter it,” said principal investigator Charlotte Garing, an assistant professor in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences department of geology. “That means you can also capture changes over time as the sample transforms.”
The Sigray scanner offers higher-resolution images and faster acquisition times for a similar imaged volume than comparable models. It supports a range of disciplines, from archeology and anthropology to pharmacology and engineering.
“We had several co-PIs on the grant — including Doug Menke in the genetics department, Breeanna Urbanowicz in the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center and Dan Johnson in the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources — to really demonstrate the breadth of fields that might use this instrument,” said Tina Salguero, academic director of GEM and co-PI on the grant.
The grant also funded three high-performance workstations dedicated to the reconstruction of the 3D datasets and advanced image post-processing.
Education and outreach were central to the proposal. In addition to training university students on the equipment, Salguero said GEM aims to inspire K–12 visitors by showcasing the detailed models the technology can produce.
“The success of this [NSF MRI] proposal is due to support from the Office of Research,” Salguero said. “The Office of Strategic Research Development team provided guidance and feedback on the written proposal before it was submitted.”
In addition to the new micro-CT, the GEM core facility is home to other high-end microscopy instrumentation as well as technical staff, and it provides resources for research, training and service functions. It is a member of the Georgia Research Alliance Core Exchange. For information about capabilities and pricing of the lab’s equipment, contact Managing Director Eric Formo.
